MONOCOTYLEDONES 193 



Series 2. — Epigynce. 



Order 5. Zingiberace^e or Scitaminace^, the Ginger 

 Order. — Character. — Aromatic herbs, with creeping rhizomes, 

 and broad simple, stalked, sheathing leaves, with parallel 

 curved veins springing from the midrib. Flowers arranged in 

 a spiked or racemose manner, and arising from among spatha- 

 ceous membranous bracts. Perianth superior, irregular, each 

 whorl consisting of 3 pieces. Stamens 6, in 2 whorls, all 

 abortive except the posterior one of the inner whorl ; anther 2- 

 celled ; filament notpetaloid. Ovary inferior, 3-celled ; ijlacen- 

 tas axile ; style filiform. Fruit 1 — 3-celled, capsular or baccate. 

 Seeds numerous, albuminous ; embryo enclosed in endo- 

 sperm. 



By Bentliam and Hoolcer the two succeeding orders, Maran- 

 tacecB and Musacece, are included in Zingibei'acece. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Chiefly natives of tropical 

 regions. Illustrative Genera : — Zingiber, Gdrtn. ; Curcuma, 

 Linn. ; Elettaria, Rheed. There are about 250 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are principally remarkable for 

 the stimulant aromatic properties possessed by their rhizomes 

 and seeds, owing to the presence of resins and volatile oils ; hence 

 several are used as condiments, and in medicine as aromatic 

 stimulants and stomachics. Some contain starch in large quan- 

 tities, which when extracted is employed for food. 



Order 6. Marantace.e or CANNACEiE, the Maranta Order. — 

 Character. — Herbaceous plants, without aromatic properties. 

 They have a close resemblance to the Zingiberaceae. Their 

 distinctive characters are, in their more irregular perianth ; in 

 one of the lateral stamens of the inner whorl being fertile, and 

 the other two abortive ; in the fertile stamen having a petaloid 

 filament, an entire or 2-lobed anther, one lobe of which is 

 sterile, and the anther therefore 1-celled ; in the stjde being 

 petaloid or swollen ; and in the embryo not being enclosed in 

 endosperm. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Exclusively natives of tropical 

 regions. Illustrative Genera : — Maranta, Plum. ; Canna, Linn. 

 There are about 160 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The rhizomes of some species contain 

 starch, which when extracted is extensively used for food. 



Order 7. Musace^e, the Banana Order. — Character. — 

 Herbaceous plants, often of large size. Leaves large, with 



VOL. II. o 



